The 26th Annual Black Reel Awards — known as the Bolts — delivered a historic night for Black cinema, and one film stood at the center of it all.
‘Sinners’ dominated the ceremony with 14 wins, setting a new Bolts record and surpassing the previous benchmark held by Black Panther. The genre-bending horror musical didn’t just win big — it reshaped the awards’ history books.
The film took home Outstanding Film, with producers Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, and Ryan Coogler recognized for their work. Ryan Coogler also earned wins for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Screenplay, tying Gina Prince-Bythewood for the most directing wins in Bolts history. In doing so, he joins Jordan Peele and Cord Jefferson as one of the few filmmakers to win Producing, Writing, and Directing honors for the same film.
A Sweep Across the Board
‘Sinners’ accomplished something no other film has in the gender-neutral era of the acting categories: it swept all three major acting awards.
Michael B. Jordan won Outstanding Lead Performance, joining the ranks of Denzel Washington, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Chadwick Boseman as multiple-time Lead winners. Jordan also became the youngest recipient in the category since its transition to gender-neutral honors.
Wunmi Mosaku earned Outstanding Supporting Performance, while Miles Caton won Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, making him one of the night’s breakout stars.
Caton didn’t stop there. He also took home Outstanding Original Song for “I Lied to You,” becoming the first male performer to win in both acting and song categories in the same year.
Composer Ludwig Göransson made history as well, becoming the first person to win Outstanding Score and Outstanding Original Song in the same year for the same film.
Behind the camera, ‘Sinners’ continued its sweep:
- Outstanding Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw — the first woman to win in the category
- Outstanding Production Design: Hannah Beachler (extending her record to three wins)
- Outstanding Editing: Michael P. Shawver
- Outstanding Hair & Makeup: Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Sian Richards, Shunika Terry
- Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Soundtrack
The film also became the most awarded horror and musical film in Bolts history, solidifying its cultural and technical impact.
Historic Firsts Beyond ‘Sinners’
While ‘Sinners’ dominated, the night featured multiple groundbreaking achievements.
Geeta Gandbhir made history as the first individual to win Outstanding Documentary (The Perfect Neighbor) and Outstanding Short Film (The Devil is Busy) in the same year.
R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres earned Outstanding Independent Film, and he also won Outstanding Emerging Director, becoming the first filmmaker to claim both awards in the same year.
Zoe Saldaña won Outstanding Voice Performance for Avatar: Fire & Ash, becoming the first actress to win the category multiple times — and the first performer to win multiple Bolts for the same role.
In costume design, Paul Tazewell won for Wicked: For Good, joining Ruth E. Carter as a multiple-time winner in the category.
Internationally, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl claimed Outstanding International Film, while We Were Here – The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe won Outstanding Independent Documentary.
A Night That Reflects a Bigger Shift
The Bolts have long served as a platform amplifying Black creatives across film and television. But this year’s ceremony felt different — not just celebratory, but definitive.
A horror musical sweeping acting, craft, and top honors signals something bigger about where Black storytelling is headed. Genre is no longer a limitation. It’s a playground.
And with ‘Sinners’ now the most awarded film in Bolts history, the message is clear: bold risks, genre fluidity, and visionary Black filmmaking aren’t niche — they’re leading the industry.
For a ceremony built on honoring excellence in Black cinema, the 26th Annual Black Reel Awards didn’t just celebrate history.
It made it.